Why we all need a ‘Climate Safe Room’ (and how to create one)
Home should be a place where people feel comfortable and safe. But the poor quality of many Australian houses means this isn’t possible for some people.
Homes are often draughty, damp, too hot in summer and too cold in winter, requiring high energy amounts of energy to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Around 70 per cent of houses in Australia have an energy rating of three stars or lower (out of 10) on the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme
New homes now require seven or more stars.
Currently, more than 80 per cent of homes in Victoria are colder than 18 degrees in winter, which is the minimum temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation.
Making one room a safe haven
Renters and homeowners can find themselves in a bind – unable to afford high energy bills to heat and cool their homes, but also unable to pay for any home improvements that reduce bills.
Energy improvements like insulation, solar panels and reverse-cycle air conditioning can be costly to install for a whole home. It can also be difficult to know where to start.
A Climate Safe Room is a first step to help make homes more healthy and efficient.
Rather than working on the whole house, applying energy efficiency measures to just one room can create a safe haven during extreme heat and cold.
Building on work by the local council in Mildura in 2011 to ‘cocoon’ vulnerable residents against extreme heat waves, Climate Safe Rooms have been piloted by Geelong Sustainability and Yarra City Council.
The Energy Efficiency and Electrification Alliance of suppliers and installers has been working with social housing, government and charities to deliver Climate Safe Rooms.
These programs for vulnerable residents provide valuable lessons for anyone in the energy bill bind.
A Climate Safe Room is typically the place where people spend the most time during the day – usually a living room.
The same approach could be used for a bedroom to improve sleep during heatwaves or cold winter nights. If the main concern is escaping heat in the summer, then a room on the south side of the house might be best.
Creating your own Climate Safe Room
The first step is draught-proofing to stop air leaking in or out of the room – keeping heat inside in winter and out in summer.
Draught-proofing means sealing gaps around windows, doors, floorboards and skirting boards, and blocking chimneys.
This can be done by installing simple strips and products on door and window frames, and caulking gaps in floors and walls.
These are low-cost measures that can often be installed yourself even if you have limited prior skill or experience, with plenty of advice available online.
Stopping air flow can both reduce and increase air pollution inside the room. Gas heaters and stoves produce pollution, so rooms with these appliances shouldn’t be sealed without adequate ventilation.
On the other hand, stopping polluted air coming in from outside can be beneficial for homes on busy roads or during bushfires.
Ceiling insulation is the next step for climate-proofing the room. This could involve installing insulation for the first time or upgrading existing insulation.
Insulation standards have improved significantly in recent years, providing an incentive to upgrade or add an extra layer.
Heat transfer through windows can be reduced with thermal insulating curtains or blinds. Keeping blinds and curtains closed on hot days and cold nights keeps heat in or out when you most need it.
Secondary glazing, reflective films and double glazing are other options to further improve the energy performance of existing windows. Each comes with different costs and installation complexity.
Heating and cooling a Climate Safe Room
Outdoor shading can be important for reducing heat flow through windows and walls.
In summer, external blinds or barriers can reduce heat from the sun. In winter, these should be removed to make the most of any warmth.
Once the heat transfer into and out of the room is reduced, the next step is to install reverse-cycle air conditioning.
These electric appliances are the most efficient form of heating and cooling and don’t produce indoor air pollution.
In a Climate Safe Room, air conditioning can be run more efficiently, because the heat or cool air stays in the room, rather than leaking out through ceilings, windows, doors and gaps.
The Retrofit Lab at the University of Melbourne has been working with the Energy Efficiency and Electrification Alliance to share knowledge about Climate Safe Rooms and the urgent need to improve Australian houses.
Together, we built a Climate Safe Room to show these techniques and products to the public. With the help of our online resources, we hope everyone will feel empowered to create a climate haven in their own home.
